FROM    THE   LIBRARY   OF 


REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED    BY    HIM    TO 


THE    LIBRARY   OF 


PRINCETON   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://archive.org/details/myownhyOOburt 


JUl  ?  11936 


MY  OWN  HYMN  B< 


Xllustratetr  totth  jFourteru  EugrabfugA 


"  Feed  my  lambs."  —  John  xxi.  15. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 

No.    265    CHESTNUT    STREET. 


CONTENTS 


Morning 7 

Evening 8 

God  is  good  and  kind 9 

My  Mother 10 

A  little  Child  maybe  useful 12 

Never  waste  Anything 14 

The  Bee 15 

How  to  learn  a  Lesson 17 

Going  on  to  learn 18 

A  Lesson  of  Truth 20 

A  Lesson  of  Love 21 

Be  kind 22 

Honour  thy  Father  and  thy  Mother 24 

My  happy  Home 25 

Some  have  no  Home 26 

God  made  all  Things 27 

The  Earth 28 

The  Seasons 29 

The  Stars 31 

The  Rainbow 32 

God  made  me 33 

God  keeps  me 34 

About  Jesus 35 

Jesus  loved  the  young 36 

More  about  Jesus 37 

About  Sin 38 

How  to  be  saved 39 

A  new  Heart 40 


(v) 


Good  and  evil 41 

What  am  I? 42 

A  humble  Mind 43 

Saying  Prayers 45 

How  to  pray 46 

The  Child's  Prayer 46 

God  cares  for  little  Ones 48 

What  hides  God  from  us 49 

God  orders  all  Things  50 

God  my  Father 51 

Bless  me,  0  my  Father 52 

Praying  to  be  like  Jesus 54 

God  sees  me  always 54 

Divine  Care 55 

The  Orange 56 

The  Bible 58 

The  Lord's  Day 59 

Not  too  young  to  die 60 

Life  and  Death 61 

Life  after  Death 63 

The  Good  Shepherd 64 

Feed  my  Lambs 65 

Little  Children  praising  the  Saviour 66 

Praise  for  Salvation 68 

Glory  to  Jesus 69 

Praise  and  Love 71 


MY  OWN   HYMN  BOOK. 


1.  MORNING. 

Dark  night  is  gone  away ; 
The  sun  is  in  the  skies : 
Again  I  see  the  light  of  day ; 
Again  from  sleep  I  rise. 

I  thank  the  Lord  above, 
That  I  have  slept  in  peace, 
And  now  awake  to  praise  his  love, 
Whose  mercies  never  cease. 


(7) 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


Now  let  me  kneel  and  pray, 
That  God  my  soul  may  take 
Under  his  care  all  thro'  this  day, 
For  Christ  my  Saviour's  sake. 


2.  EVENING. 

The  sun  is  in  the  west ; 
The  close  of  day  I  see : 
Once  more  I  go  to  take  my  rest ; 
The  Lord  has  cared  for  me. 

Now  let  me  praise  his  name, 
Who  kept  me  thro'  the  day ; 
And  while  I  own  my  sins  with  shame, 
For  pardon  let  me  pray. 

Then  may  I  fall  asleep, 
And  rest  upon  my  bed, 
Till  morning  light  again  shall  peep, 
And  rouse  my  sleeping  head. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


3.  GOD  IS  GOOD  AND  KIND. 

How  very  kind  is  God  to  me ! 
Look  where  I  may,  his  gifts  I  see ; 
The  food  I  eat,  the  clothes  I  wear, 
Are  tokens  of  my  Maker  s  care. 

He  guards  me  both  by  day  and  night : 
It  is  his  sun  that  gives  me  light ; 
And  while  in  sleep  my  rest  I  take, 
He  keeps  me  safely  till  I  wake. 

When  I  am  ill,  he  knows  my  pain, 
And  often  makes  me  well  again 
When  I  am  well,  he  keeps  me  so ; 
And  all  I  have  to  him  I  owe. 

He  gives  me  friends  and  teachers  kind, 
Who  seek  to  train  my  infant  mind, 
His  holy  name  to  know  and  love, 
And  raise  my  thoughts  to  things  above. 

Lord,  let  thy  tender  love  to  me 
Draw  forth  my  heart  in  love  to  thee ; 
Love  that  shall  lead  me  to  obey, 
And  serve  and  praise  thee  day  by  day. 


10 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


4.  MY  MOTHER. 


li''1  ' 


I  ought  to  love  my  mother ; 

She  loved  me  long  ago : 
There  is  on  earth  no  other 

That  ever  loved  me  so. 
When  a  weak  babe,  much  trial 

I  caused  her,  and  much  care 
Tor  me  no  self-denial, 

No  labour  did  she  spare. 


MY    OWN     HYMN    BOOK.  11 


When  in  my  cradle  lying, 

Or  on  her  loving  breast, 
She  gently  hushed  my  crying, 

And  rocked  her  babe  to  rest. 
When  anything  has  ailed  me, 

To  her  I've  told  my  grief; 
Her  fond  love  never  failed  me, 

In  finding  some  relief. 

What  sight  is  that  which,  near  me, 

Makes  home  a  happy  place, 
And  has  such  power  to  cheer  me  ? — 

It  is  my  mother  s  face. 
What  sound  is  that  which  ever 

Makes  my  young  heart  rejoice, 
With  tones  that  tire  me  never  ? — 

It  is  my  mothers  voice. 

My  mother  !    dearest  mother ! 

She  loved  me  long  ago ; 
There  is  on  earth  no  other 

That  ever  loved  me  so. 
I  ought  to  try  to  please  her, 

And  all  her  words  to  mind; 


12  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

And  never  vex  or  tease  her 
Nor  speak  a  word  unkind. 

When  she  is  ill,  to  tend  her 

My  daily  care  shall  be : 
Such  help  as  I  can  render, 

Will  all  be  joy  to  me. 
Though  I  can  ne'er  repay  her 

For  all  her  tender  care, 
I'll  honour  and  obey  her, 

While  God  our  lives  shall  spare. 


5.  A  LITTLE  CHILD  MAY  BE  USEFUL. 

A  little  child  I  am  indeed, 

And  little  do  I  know, 
Much  help  and  care  I  yet  shall  need, 

That  I  may  wiser  grow, 
If  I  would  ever  hope  to  do 
Things  great  and  good,  and  useful  too. 

But  even  now  I  ought  to  try 
To  do  what  good  I  may ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  13 

God  never  meant  that  such  as  I 

Should  only  live  to  play, 
And  talk  and  laugh,  and  eat  and  drink, 
And  sleep  and  wake,  and  never  think. 

I  am  not  strong  enough,  I  know, 

To  earn  my  daily  bread; 
I  cannot  dig,  nor  plough,  nor  sow, 

And  yet  I  must  be  fed : 
But  if  I  try,  I  think  I  may 
Just  do  a  little  day  by  day. 

I  may,  if  I  have  but  a  mind, 

Do  good  in  many  ways : 
Plenty  to  do  the  young  may  find, 

In  these  our  busy  days : 
Sad  would  it  be,  tho'  young  and  small, 
If  I  were  of  no  use  at  all. 

One  gentle  word  that  I  may  speak, 

Or  one  kind,  loving  deed, 
May,  though  a  trifle  poor  and  weak, 

Prove  like  a  tiny  seed ; 
And  who  can  tell  what  good  may  spring 
From  such  a  very  little  thing  ? 


14  MY    OWN    HYMN"    BOOK. 

Then  let  me  try,  each  day  and  hour, 

To  act  upon  this  plan, — 
What  little  good  is  in  my  power, 

To  do  it  while  I  can. 
If  to  be  useful  thus  I  try, 
I  may  do  better  by  and  by. 

6.  NEVER  WASTE  ANYTHING. 

While  some  poor  children  that  I  meet 
Have  very  little  food  to  eat, 
Thanks  to  my  heavenly  Father's  care, 
I  have  enough,  and  some  to  spare. 

Then  never  must  I  waste  that  bread, 
By  which  the  hungry  may  be  fed, 
For  those  who  throw  their  food  away, 
May  live  to  want  that  food  some  day. 

Not  anything  should  I  destroy, 
Which  others  may  for  good  employ ; 
Nor  even  tread  beneath  my  feet 
A  crumb  some  little  bird  would  eat. 

I  must  not  little  things  despise, 

For  much  from  little  things  may  rise ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN     BOOK. 


15 


And  every  moment,  every  mite, 

Is  of  some  worth,  when  used  aright. 


7.  THE  BEE. 


I  love  to  see 

The  busy  bee, 
I  love  to  watch  the  hive ; 

When  the  sun's  hot ; 

They  linger  not, 
It  makes  them  all  alive. 


16  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


God  gives  them  skill, 

And,  with  good  will, 
They  to  their  work  attend ; 

Each  little  cell 

Is  shaped  so  well, 
That  none  their  work  can  mend. 

Now  in,  now  out, 

They  move  about, 
Yet  all  in  order  true ; 

Each  seems  to  know 

Both  where  to  go, 
And  what  it  has  to  do. 

Mid  summer  heat, 

The  honey  sweet 
It  gathers  while  it  may, 

In  tiny  drops, 

And  never  stops 
To  waste  its  time  in  play. 

I  hear  it  come, 
I  know  its  hum ; 
It  flies  from  flower  to  flower : 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  17 

And  to  its  store 
A  little  more 
It  adds,  each  day  and  hour. 

Just  so  should  I 

My  heart  apply, 
My  proper  work  to  mind  : 

Look  for  some  sweet 

In  all  I  meet, 
And  store  up  all  I  find. 


8.  HOW  TO  LEARN  A  LESSON. 

An  easy  lesson  may  appear 
Too  hard  at  first  for  me, 

Although  to  others  very  clear, 
And  simple  as  can  be. 

If  with  good  will  I  try  to  learn, 
Soon  I  may  find  it  plain ; 

But  if  from  it  in  haste  I  turn, 
Hard  it  will  still  remain. 

It  will  not  do  to  think  or  say — 
"  'Tis  of  no  use  to  try ;"  " 


18  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


To  give  it  up  is  not  the  way, 
Nor  yet  to  fret  or  cry. 

The  way  to  make  that  lesson  plain, 
Which  now  too  hard  I  find, 

Is  but  to  try,  and  try  again, 
With  all  my  heart  and  mind. 

I  know  not  what  I  may  get  through 
In  time,  with  proper  care ; 

What  others  have  done  I  may  do, 
And  their  reward  may  share. 


9.  GOING  ON  TO  LEARN. 

How  glad  I  am  that  I  can  read ; 
For  would  it  not  be  sad  indeed, 
If  I  should  say,  This  book  is  mine, 
While  yet  I  could  not  read  a  line  ? 

How  much  to  my  kind  friends  I  owe, 
Who  taught  me  nearly  all  I  know; 
I  hope  I  shall,  some  future  day, 
Their  tender  love  and  care  repay. 


MY    OWN     HYMN    BOOK. 


19 


But  I  have  only  just  begun  ; 
A  great  deal  more  must  yet  be  done; 
If  wise  and  useful  I  would  grow, 
I  must  go  on  to  learn,  I  know. 


And  so  I  will,  with  all  my  power, 
From  day  to  day,  from  hour  to  hour ; 
For  though  much  time  and  pains  it  cost, 
It  never  will  be  labour  lost. 


20  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


10.  A  LESSON  OF  TRUTH. 

There  is  a  holy  God  above, 
Who  truth  and  right  doth  ever  love ; 
They  who  would  please  him  must  be  true, 
In  all  they  speak  and  all  they  do. 

We  must  not  tell  a  lie  in  play, 
For  God  hears  every  word  we  say ; 
And  he  knows  what  we  think  within, 
And  all  that  is  not  true  is  sin. 

Then  if  some  evil  we  have  done, 
To  speak  the  truth  we  must  not  shun ; 
Far  better  that  we  bear  the  blame, 
Than  tell  a  lie  to  hide  our  shame. 

For  this  would  never  hide  it  long ; 
God  always  knows  when  we  do  wrong : 
And  he  who  lives  and  dies  a  liar, 
Will  perish  in  the  lake  of  fire. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  21 


11.  A  LESSON  OP  LOVE. 

Little  children,  love  each  other ; 

Kind,  and  good,  and  gentle  be : 
Brother  should  be  kind  to  brother 

Sisters  should  in  love  aaree. 
Love  your  playmates,  try  to  please  them ; 

Let  no  thing  be  said  or  done, 
Which  would  hurt,  or  vex,  or  tease  them, 

Or  would  injure  any  one. 

All  who  love  God,  love  each  other, 

And  desire  to  do  no  ill : 
Cruel  Cain  !    he  killed  his  brother, — 

Why  did  Cain  his  brother  kill  ? 
Just  because  his  works  wrere  evil, 

And  his  brother's  pure  and  right  ; 
Wicked  Cain,  urged  by  the  devil, 

Killed  him  in  a  fit  of  spite. 

Quarrel  not,  but  love  each  other, 

And  be  ready  to  forgive ; 
Let  each  sister  and  each  brother 

Seek  in  love  and  peace  to  live 


22  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK 


Not  in  word  or  tongue  love  merely, 
But  in  deed,  with  heart  and  mind; 

Show  you  love  them  truly,  dearly; 
Both  in  word  and  act  be  kind. 

Little  children  !    love  each  other ; 

Show  true  love  to  great  and  small ; 
Love  your  father  and  your  mother, 

And  love  God  the  most  of  all. 
God  is  love ;  and  he  has  told  you, 

If  you  try  to  live  in  love, 
Then  will  he  with  love  behold  you, 

And  will  bless  you  from  above. 

12.  BE  KIND. 

Let  us  be  kind,  for  God  above 
Kind  actions  loves  to  see ; 

And  he  would  have  us  dwell  in  love, 
A  happy  family. 

The  Lord  is  kind  to  all  that  live, 
And  so  should  we  be  kind ; 

Such  help  or  ease  as  we  can  give, 
Should  all  around  us  find. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  23 


We  must  not  hurt  a  worm,  a  fly, 

Or  any  living  thing ; 
But  if  they  need  it,  we  should  try 

Our  feeble  help  to  bring. 

Much  more  should  we  be  kind  to  those 
Whom  God  like  us  has  made ; 

And  freely  yield,  in  all  their  woes, 
Our  pity  and  our  aid. 

When  thus  we  try  to  help  the  weak, 

And  cheer  the  sick  or  sad, 
Each  kind  and  tender  word  we  speak, 

Will  make  our  own  hearts  glad. 

Let  us  be  kind  to  all  we  meet, 

And  gentle  as  the  dove ; 
And  show  a  temper  mild  and  sweet, 

A  heart  brimful  of  love. 


24 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


13.  HONOUR  THY  FATHER  AND  THY  MOTHER. 


Honour  thy  father,  and  obey, 

Honour  thy  mother  too ; 
Do  not  refuse,  do  not  delay 

What  they  would  have  thee  do. 

Thy  father ! — he  has  toiled  for  thee, 
And  felt  for  thee  much  care ; 

Thy  mother ! — none  can  tell  what  she 
Has  had,  for  thee,  to  bear. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  25 


Obey  your  parents  in  the  Lord ; 

Submit,  as  in  his  sight ; 
Obey  them,  love  them,  mind  their  word, 

For  this,  you  know,  is  right. 

Do  all  you  can  their  hearts  to  cheer, 

When  grief  upon  them  lies, 
And  gently  wipe  away  the  tear 

Of  sorrow  from  their  eyes. 

14.  MY  HAPPY  HOME. 

Home  is  a  happy  place  to  me, 
The  place  where  most  I  love  to  be ; 
For  there  true  love  and  joy  I  find, 
And  all  that 's  dear,  and  all  that  'a  kind. 

To  come  from  school  at  close  of  day, 
From  walks  abroad,  or  from  my  play, 
At  the  fireside,  in  love  to  meet 
Brother  and  sister — this  is  sweet. 

To  climb  upon  my  father's  knee, 
My  mother's  smiling  face  to  see, 
And  feel  her  kind  and  dear  embrace, 
Oh !  this  makes  home  a  happy  place. 


26  MY    OWN     HYMN    BOOK. 

Kind  looks,  kind  words,  and  love  sincere, 
Make  home  to  me  a  place  so  dear ; 
Then  let  me  ever  try,  by  these, 
To  cheer  and  bless,  to  serve  and  please. 


15.  SOME  HAVE  NO  HOME. 

I  pity  those  who  have  no  home, 
But  beg  their  bread,  or  idly  roam : 
Some  young  as  I,  no  mother  s  care, 
Nor  father's  tender  kindness  share. 

Like  them,  without  a  home,  and  wild, 
I  might  have  been  a  beggar  s  child, 
The  pains  of  hunger  oft  to  feel, 
And  learn,  like  some  of  them,  to  steal. 

I  pity  them,  and,  if  I  could, 
How  I  should  like  to  do  them  good ; 
To  tell  them  of  the  Saviour  s  love, 
And  of  a  better  world  above. 

That  world  of  joy,  that  home  of  peace, 
Where  love  shall  never,  never  cease ; 
Where  there  is  room  for  all  to  meet,- 
Before  our  heavenly  Fathers  feet. 


MY    OWN    HYMN     BOOK.  27 


16.  GOD  MADE  ALL  THINGS. 

God  lives  in  heaven,  above  our  sight ; 
He  made  the  sun  that  shines  so  bright, 
He  made  the  moon  and  stars  on  high, 
And  all  we  see  below  the  sky. 

He  made  the  earth,  he  made  the  seas, 
The  flowers  and  fruits,  the  herbs  and  trees ; 
The  birds  that  fly,  the  fish  that  swim, 
And  all  that  live,  were  made  by  him. 

His  works,  spread  out  before  our  eyes, 
Show  he  is  good,  and  strong,  and  wise ; 
Some  very  great,  some  very  small, — 
In  wisdom  he  has  made  them  all. 

He  made  us,  too,  that  we  might  know, 
And  serve,  and  love  him  here  below ; 
Then  go  to  heaven,  that  happy  place, 
Where  saints  and  angels  see  his  face. 

He  sent  his  Son  our  sins  to  bear, 
That  we  might  crowns  of  glory  wear, 
And  live  for  ever  in  his  sight, 
Where  all  is  holy,  pure,  and  bright. 


28  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

17.  THE  EARTH. 

The  works  of  God  his  glory  show, 

All  are  so  wisely  planned ; 
Only  a  little  can  we  know 

Of  things  so  great  and  grand. 

Wise  men,  by  search,  have  found  out  much 

About  the  earth  and  skies ; 
And  many  things  they  tell  are  such 

As  fill  us  with  surprise. 

Shaped  like  an  orange  or  a  ball, 
Our  earth  flies  round  the  sun ; 

It  does  not  turn  aside  at  all, 
But  ever  onwards  run. 

Kound  the  vast  circle,  once  a  year, 
It  moves  with  wondrous  speed; 

And  thus  the  seasons  all  appear, 
And  one  by  one  recede. 

And  while,  to  make  our  day  and  night, 

It  spins  round  like  a  wheel, 
We  yet  can  walk  and  stand  upright, 

For  we  no  motion  feel. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  29 


These  things,  and  many  more  as  strange. 

We  soon  may  better  know, 
Both  in  the  lofty  sky's  wide  range, 

And  in  the  earth  below. 

Then  since,  in  what  God's  hand  has  wrought, 

We  can  such  wonders  see, 
How  great  and  wise,  beyond  our  thought, 

Must  He  who  made  them  be ! 


18.  THE  SEASONS. 

The  world,  with  all  that  dwell  therein, 
Was  made  by  God,  we  know ; 

And  all  was  good,  till  spoiled  by  sin : 
The  Bible  tells  us  so. 

Beauty  and  order  still  appear 

In  all  that  God  has  made ; 
In  the  four  seasons  of  the  year, 

The  daylight  and  the  shade. 

In  spring  we  look  abroad  and  see 
The  earth  new  dressed  in  green ; 

In  every  plant,  and  flower,  and  tree, 
New  life  is  daily  seen. 


30 


MY     OWN     HYMN     BOOK. 


Next  summer  fruits  and  flowers  adorn 

The  garden  and  the  field ; 
Till  autumn,  with  its  ripened  corn, 

To  man  its  fruits  doth  yield. 


Then  winter  comes,  with  frost  and  snow, 

And  windy  storm  and  rain ; 
And  little  in  the  earth  will  grow, 

Till  spring  comes  round  again. 

So  day  and  nijxht,  and  heat  and  cold, 
Obey  our  Maker  s  Will, 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  31 


And  all  his  works  which  we  behold 
Some  useful  end  fulfil. 


19.  THE  STARS. 

What  are  those  stars  that  shine  on  high, 

Which  oft  by  night  I  view, 
Like  little  holes  bored  in  the  sky, 

To  let  the  glory  through  ? 

Those  stars,  though  little  in  our  sight, 
Are  worlds  which  God  has  made ; 

He  makes  them  shine  so  clear  and  bright, 
In  the  dark  evening  shade. 

I  cannot  count  them,  nor  can  tell 

The  uses  they  fulfil ; 
But  God  our  Maker  knows  them  well, 

And  guides  them  at  his  will. 

I  wonder  much  that  eyes  like  mine 

Those  starry  worlds  can  see ; 
Great  God !  it  was  thy  power  divine 

That  made  both  them  and  me. 


32  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


20.  THE  RAINBOW. 

Oh  !  I  have  seen  a  pretty  sight ! — 

An  arch  across  the  sky, 
A  bow,  with  many  colours  bright : 

It  looked  so  grand,  so  high. 

The  rain  had  almost  passed  away, 

The  sun  was  at  my  back; 
But  dark  clouds  still  before  me  lay ; — 
-  Far  off  the  sky  was  black. 

Just  then  the  sun  shone  forth  again, 
With  beams  so  strong  and  clear; 

It  shone  upon  the  drops  of  rain, 
And  made  that  arch  appear. 

It  is  the  rainbow — God's  own  bow, 

Set  in  the  cloud  above ; 
That  all  who  look  on  it  may  know 

His  mercy,  truth,  and  love. 

To  Noah,  when  the  flood  was  o'er, 

Did  God  this  token  give, 
That  he  would  drown  the  earth  no  more, 

With  all  that  on  it  live. 


MY    0WJNT    HYMN    BOOK.  33 


Then  when,  in  colours  bright  and  fair, 

I  see  the  rainbow  shine, 
I'll  think  of  Him  who  placed  it  there, 

And  own  his  hand  divine. 


21.  GOD  MADE  ME. 

God  made  me  by  his  power, 

He  formed  my  mortal  frame 

And  at  my  life's  first  hour, 

From  him  my  spirit  came. 
And  every  thing  I  call  my  own, 
I  have  received  from  him  alone. 

He  gave  me  eyes  to  see ; 

He  formed  my  ears  to  hear ; 

This  tongue  he  made  for  me 

To  speak  with  voice  so  clear : 
I  might  have  been  born  blind,  like  some ; 
Or  born,  like  others,  deaf  and  dumb. 

My  hands  and  feet  he  made, 
These  busy  fingers  too, 
That  I  might,  with  his  aid, 
Learn  useful  things  to  do, 


34 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


Be  active,  while  on  earth  I  dwell, 
And  never  tire  in  doing  well. 
May  I  his  will  obey, 
For  all  his  will  is  love, 
While  in  this  world  I  stay, 
And  in  the  world  above ; 
Then  shall  I  see  my  Maker's  face, 
And  praise  him  better  for  his  grace. 

22.  GOD  KEEPS  ME. 


From  his  high  throne  above  the  sky, 
The  Lord  can  all  things  see ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  35 

I  cannot  see  him,  but  his  eye 
Looks  kindly  down  on  me. 

He  cared  for  me  before  I  knew 

That  I  had  such  a  Friend ; 
When  my  first  feeble  breath  I  drew, 

He  did  my  life  defend. 

And  while  I  was  a  baby  wreak, 
He  taught  my  thoughts  to  rise ; 

And  long  before  I  learned  to  speak, 
He  heard  my  infant  cries. 

He  keeps  me  still,  by-his  great  power 

From  danger,  night  and  day ; 
I  could  not  live  a  single  hour, 

If  he  were  far  away. 

But  he  is  always  near  and  kind, 
And  loves  to  hear  my  prayer ; 

May  I  his  tender  mercy  find, 
And  trust  his  love  and  care. 


23.  ABOUT  JESUS. 

Who  is  He  that,  out  of  love, 
Came  to  save  us  from  above  ? 


36  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

God's  own  Son,  to  save  us  came ; 
Jesus  is  his  lovely  name. 

Oh  what  love  that  moved  him  thus 
To  become  a  child  like  us ! 
That  we  little  ones  might  see, 
In  his  life,  what  we  should  be. 

Jesus  was  a  holy  child, 
Humble,  patient,  meek,  and  mild ; 
He  obeyed  his  mother,  too, 
And  in  wisdom  daily  grew. 

Like  him  may  we  seek  to  be 
From  all  evil  tempers  free ; 
And  as  daily  more  we  know, 
More  like  Jesus  may  we  grow. 


24.  JESUS  LOVED  THE  YOUNG. 

Full  of  love  was  Jesus  found 
To  the  little  ones  around ; 
And  his  tender  loving  eye 
Would  not  pass  an  infant  by. 

Once,  when  such  to  him  were  led, 
Oh  what  gentle  words  he  said ! 


MY    OWN     HYMN    BOOK.  37 

While  he  took  them  up,  and  smiled 
Kindly  on  each  little  child. 

"  Let  the  young  ones  come  to  me 
And  forbid  them  not/'  said  he ; 
"  Many  such,  in  heaven  above, 
Dwell  with  me  and  share  my  love." 

Jesus  ever  loved  the  young, 
And  when  once  his  praise  they  sung,* 
He  was  pleased  to  hear  the  same ; 
So  ought  we  to  praise  his  name. 


25.  MORE  ABOUT  JESUS. 

Jesus,  when  on  earth  he  dwelt. 
Pain  and  sorrow  often  felt, 
Yet  he  felt  for  others  more, 
When  our  sins  and  woes  he  bore. 

Ever  glad  to  bless  and  save, 

To  the  needy  help  he  gave, 

To  the  poor  was  ever  kind, 

Healed  the  sick,  and  cured  the  blind. 

*  Matt,  xix.  13,  14. 


38  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

Thus  he  showed  great  love  and  power, 
Doing  good  from  hour  to  hour, 
Till  the  wicked  men,  one  day, 
Joined  to  take  his  life  away. 

Jesus  died,  our  souls  to  save ; 
Then  he  rose  and  left  the  grave, 
Went  up  where  he  was  before, — 
There  he  lives,  to  die  no  more. 


26.  ABOUT  SIN. 

I  know  that  I  was  born  in  sin 
I  feel  much  evil  work  within ; 
Sins  that  offend  my  Maker  s  eyes, 
Dwell  in  my  heart,  and  often  rise. 

How  do  I  grieve  my  parents  dear 
When  cross  or  angry  I  appear, 
When  I  am  vain,  or  rude,  or  bold, 
And  do  not  mind  what  I  am  told ! 

And  when  I  think  I  will  be  good, 
I  find  I  cannot,  if  I  would ; 
I  seem  almost  to  try  in  vain, 
For  soon  I  am  as  bad  again. 


MY    0¥R    HYMN    BOOK.  39 

Yet  there  is  One  who  pities  me, 
Who  every  thought  and  wish  can  see, 
And,  while  so  wrell  he  knows  my  case, 
Offers  to  help  me  by  his  grace. 

Father  in  heaven  !  thy  grace  impart, 
To  make  me  good  and  pure  in  heart  j 
That  I  from  sin  may  turn  away, 
And  love  thee  always  and  obey. 


27.  HOW  TO  BE  SAVED. 

I  AM  a  sinful  child, 
My  nature  is  depraved 
My  heart  is  guilty  and  defiled ; 
Oh  how  can  I  be  saved  ? 

The  Bible  shows  the  way — 
I  must  repent  of  sin ; 
And  ask  the  Lord  to  take  away 
This  evil  heart  within. 

To  Jesus,  God's  dear  Son, 
For  pardon  I  must  fly ; 
He  died  for  sins  that  I  have  done, 
And  now  he  reigns  on  high. 


40  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


He  will  my  sins  forgive, 
And  a  new  heart  bestow  9 
That  I  may  to  his  glory  live, 
And  serve  him  here  below. 

And  when  this  body  dies, 
My  soul  to  heaven  shall  soar, 
To  dwell  with  Christ  above  the  skies, 
Where  I  shall  sin  no  more. 


28.  A  NEW  HEART. 

The  Lord  has  said  he  will  impart, 

To  those  who  pray,  a  new,  clean  heart, 

And  write  his  holy  laws  within, 

That  they  may  hate  and  turn  from  sin. 

0  Lord,  give  such  a  heart  to  me ; 
From  Satan's  power  now  set  me  free ; 
This  wicked  heart  by  grace  renew, 
And  make  it  tender,  pure,  and  true. 

Let  thy  good  Spirit  be  my  guide, 
And  ever  in  my  heart  abide, 
To  keep  me  in  thy  fear  and  love, 
And  guide  me  to  thy  rest  above. 


MY    OWN     HYMN     BOOK. 


41 


29.  GOOD  AND  EVIL. 


te  v%S^"~^Ji 


A  child  is  by  his  doings  known, 
As  well  as  others  older  grown ; 
And  if  his  work  be  pure  and  right, 
Is  pleasing  in  his  Maker's  sight. 


We  know,  when  we  are  doing  wrong, 
Our  sin  cannot  be  hidden  long ; 


42  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

God  sees  and  knows  it  at  the  time, 
And  he  will  punish  every  crime. 

How  gladly  doth  his  eye  behold, 
When  we  do  well,  as  we  are  told ! 
He  loves  to  see  a  child  obey, 
And  try  to  keep  his  holy  way. 

Then  let  us  seek  to  please  the  Lord, 
And  ask  his  grace,  and  mind  his  word, 
That  we  may  live  as  in  his  sight, 
And  love  the  good  and  choose  the  right 

30.  WHAT  AM  I? 

What  am  I  ? — let  me  try  to  think  : 

The  work  of  God  am  I ; 
Not  merely  born  to  eat  and  drink, 

And,  like  the  beasts,  to  die. 

God  made  me  for  a  higher  end, 

And  wiser  far  than  they ; 
To  know  and  love  him  as  my  Friend, 

And  all  his  will  obey. 

Though  I  am  now  a  sinful  child, 
There  yet  is  hope  for  me ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  43 

This  soul  of  mine,  by  sin  defiled, 
A  holy  soul  may  be. 

For  God  his  own  dear  Son  once  gave 

To  take  our  sins  away ; 
And  Jesus 'came  to  seek  and  save 

The  souls  that  went  astray. 

My  soul  can  never,  never  die, 
But  may,  through  Jesus'  grace, 

For  ever  live  with  God  on  high, 
And  see  him  face  to  face. 


31.  A  HUMBLE  MIND. 

Since  I  am  a  little  child, 
Humble  I  should  be  and  mild ; 
Always  ready  to  be  taught, 
And  to  do  the  things  I  ought. 

When  I  cannot  have  my  way, 
I  must  no  ill-will  display, 
But  must  learn  to  bend  my  will, 
And  be  kind  and  gentle  still. 

Pride  and  anger  I  must  shun, 
Nor  be  rude  to  any  one ; 


44 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


Evil  tempers  must  not  rise, 
To  offend  God's  holy  eyes. 

Lord,  thy  help  and  grace  I  seek, 
Make  me  humble,  modest,  meek; 
Poor  in  spirit  may  I  be, 
And  submit  myself  to  thee. 

Father !  like  thine  own  dear  Son, 
I  would  be  a  lowly  one, 
Ever  gentle,  patient,  kind ; 
Clothe  me  with  a  humble  mind. 


MY    OWN    HYMN     BOOK.  45 


32.  SAYING  PRAYERS. 

To  say  my  prayers  is  not  to  pray, 
Unless  I  mean  the  things  I  say, 
Unless  I  think  to  whom  I  speak, 
And  with  my  heart  his  favour  seek. 

In  prayer  wre  speak  to  God  above, 
We  seek  the  blessed  Saviour's  love, 
We  ask  for  pardon  of  our  sin, 
And  grace  to  make  us  pure  within. 

My  infant  lips  were  early  taught 
To  say  "  Our  Father,"  as  I  ought, 
And  every  morn  and  every  night, 
To  use  my  daily  prayer  is  right. 

But  oh,  if  I  am  found  to  smile, 

Or  play,  or  look  about  the  while, 

Or  think  vain  thoughts,  the  Lord  will  see, 

And  how  can  he  be  pleased  with  me  ? 

Then  let  me,  when  I  kneel  to  pray, 
Not  only  mind  the  words  I  say ; 
But  also  strive,  with  earnest  care, 
To  let  my  heart  go  with  my  prayer. 


46  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


33.  HOW  TO  PRAY. 

0  Lord,  when  I  kneel  down  to  pray, 
Keep  from  my  mind  vain  thoughts  away ; 
That  I  may  know  thou  seest  me, 
And  feel  I  am  alone  with  thee. 

Let  thy  good  Spirit  move  my  heart, 
And  holy  fear  and  love  impart, 
And  while  with  grief  my  sins  I  own, 
May  I  have  hope  through  Christ  alone. 

Oh  may  I  ever  think  of  thee, 
As  one  most  kind  and  dear  to  me ; 
As  my  best  Friend  in  heaven  above, 
My  God  and  Father,  whom  I  love. 

So  teach  me,  Lord,  by  grace  divine, 
To  know  that  I  indeed  am  thine ; 
And  then  how  great  my  joy  will  be, 
To  lift  my  heart  in  prayer  to  thee. 

34.  THE  GUILDS  PRAYER 

Lord,  look  down  on  me, 
Sinful  though  I  be, 
Draw  my  heart  to  thee. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  47 


Teach  me  how  to  pray, 
Take  my  sins  away : 
Help  me  to  obey. 

Make  me  thine  own  child, 
Humble,  meek,  and  mild, 
By  no  sin  defiled. 

Lord,  be  thou  my  Friend, 
All  my  steps  attend  ; 
Keep  me  to  the  end. 

In  thy  faith  and  fear, 
May  I  serve  thee  here, 
Till  thou  shalt  appear. 

Then,  Lord,  saved  by  grace, 
In  yon  happy  place, 
I  shall  see  thy  face. 

Then,  from  sin  quite  free, 
Heaven  my  home  shall  be, 
There  to  dwell  with  thee. 


48 


MY    OWN     HYMN     BOOK. 


35.  GOD  CARES  FOR  LITTLE  ONES. 


Though  I  am  but  a  little  one, 

God  kindly  cares  for  me ; 
He  sent  from  heaven  his  own  dear  Son, 

From  sin  to  set  me  free. 

His  will  is  not  that  such  as  I 

Should  perish  in  my  sin  : 
Then  if  to  please  him  now  I  try, 

His  favour  I  shall  win. 


MY    OWN     HYMN    BOOK.  49 

Father  in  heaven  !  thy  will  be  done, 

Oh  may  I  call  thee  mine  ! 
Have  mercy  on  a  little  one, 

And  make  me  truly  thine. 

Thou  wilt  not  on  an  infant  frown 

Who  humbly  tries  to  pray, 
But  send  thy  Holy  Spirit  down 

To  show  my  soul  the  way. 

Lord,  help  me,  teach  me  more  and  more, 

And  make  me  grow  in  grace, 
Till  I  am  fit  to  stand  before 

The  glory  of  thy  face. 

36.  WHAT  HIDES  GOD  FROM  US. 

Does  the  great  God  who  reigns  on  high 
Look  down  upon  me  from  the  sky  ? 
And  am  I  ever  in  his  sight, 
Both  all  day  long  and  through  the  night? 

Then  since  the  Lord  is  always  near, 
Why  do  I  not  behold  him  here  ? 
And  since  his  eye  is  fixed  on  me, 
Why  do  I  not  his  glory  see  ? 


50  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

Sin  hides  the  Almighty  from  our  sight, 
God  is  too  holy,  pure,  and  bright, 
For  eyes  like  mine  his  face  to  view, 
As  saints  and  holy  angels  do. 

I  cannot  bear  the  sun's  bright  ray, 
It  makes  me  turn  my  eyes  away ; 
Much  less  could  I  endure  the  sight 
Of  Him  who  gives  the  sun  its  light. 

Yet  may  I  hope  to  see  his  face, 
When  cleansed  from  sin  by  Jesus'  grace ; 
My  eyes  shall  then  his  glory  see, 
And  nothing  hide  his  love  from  me. 


37.  GOD  ORDERS  ALL  THINGS. 

I  thank  the  Lord  for  all  his  grace, 

To  me  so  freely  shown ; 
At  all  times  and  in  every  place, 

His  goodness  let  me  own. 


- 


It  was  not  chance  that  placed  me  here, 

Where  I  am  trained  and  taught 
My  Maker's  name  to  know  and  fear, 


And  love  him  as  I  ought. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  51 

The  Lord  in  wisdom  ordered  where 
And  when  my  birth  should  be ; 

And  ever  since,  with  tender  care 
He  has  watched  over  me. 

He  gives  me  all  things ;  day  by  day, 

Fresh  mercies  does  he  send ; 
And,  if  I  sin  them  not  away, 

He  will  be  still  my  Friend. 

He  orders  all  things ;  on  his  care, 

I  may  writh  safety  rest ; 
And  all  of  pain  I  have  to  bear, 

Is  surely  for  the  best. 

38.  GOD  MY  FATHER. 

Will  God  my  Father  be — 
That  God  who  reigns  above  ? 

I  wonder  he  should  notice  me, 
With  so  much  care  and  love. 

I  am  so  weak  and  small, 

And  he  so  very  great ; 
I  wonder  he  should  think  at  all 

Upon  my  humble  state. 


52  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 

Yet  does  he  think  of  me. 
And  to  my  wants  attend ; 

And  every  day  his  care  I  see, 
And  on  his  grace  depend. 

Though  I  have  oft  done  ill, 
And  no  good  thing  can  claim, 

He  lets  me  call  him  Father  still, 
And  owns  the  tender  name. 

My  Father  !    by  thy  grace, 
Prove  me  thy  child  indeed ; 

And  till  I  come  to  see  thy  face, 
Give  all  that  I  may  need. 


39.  BLESS  ME,  0  MY  FATHER. 

Bless  me,  my  Father,  even  me ; 

Thine  early  grace  impart : 
Oh  draw  my  infant  soul  to  thee, 

And  cleanse  from  sin  my  heart. 

Since  thou  hast  made  me  by  thy  power, 

I  should  thy  name  adore ; 
Since  thou  dost  keep  me  every  hour, 

I  ought  to  love  thee  more. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


53 


But  chiefly  by  thy  saving  grace, 
Through  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son, 

My  soul  is  drawn  to  seek  thy  face, 
And  in  thy  ways  to  run. 

Bless  me,  my  Father,  even  me, 
And  fill  me  with  thy  love ; 

That  I  on  earth  may  live  to  thee, 
And  dwell  with  thee  above. 


54  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


40.  PRAYING  TO  BE  LIKE  JESUS. 

Lord  Jesus  !  who  hast  died  for  me, 
That  I  might  live  in  heaven  with  thee, 
Look  on  a  little  child  with  love, 
And  help  me  from  thy  throne  above. 

My  naughty  tempers,  Lord,  subdue, 
And  all  my  sinful  habits  too ; 
And  make  me  humble,  patient,  mild, 
A  gentle,  loving,  holy  child. 

Oh,  teach  me  all  that  I  should  know ; 
In  grace  and  wisdom  may  I  grow ; 
The  more  I  learn  to  know  thy  will, 
The  better  may  I  serve  thee  still. 

Lord  Jesus  !  who  hast  died  for  me, 
Help  me  to  give  my  heart  to  thee ; 
Oh,  fill  it  with  thy  love  divine, 
And  make  it  pure  and  good  like  thine. 


41.  GOD  SEES   ME  ALWAYS. 

God  can  see  me  night  and  day, 
In  the  light  and  in  the  dark ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  55 

All  I  do,  or  think,  or  say. 
He  is  always  near  to  mark. 

If  I  do  what  is  not  right, 
Then  his  eye  is  fixed  on  me ; 

All  is  open  to  his  sight, 

Though  no  human  eye  may  see. 

Every  sinful  thought  he  knows, 
Every  word  that  is  not  true ; 

And  with  love  he  looks  on  those 
Who  desire  his  will  to  do. 

Let  me  then  with  holy  fear, 

Fly  from  every  evil  way ; 
Since  the  Lord  is  always  near, 

And  can  see  me  night  and  day. 

42.  DIVINE  CARE. 

There  is  a  Friend  above  us, 

Whose  daily  gifts  we  share  \ 
A  Father  who  doth  love  us, 

And  for  our  safety  care. 

There  is  an  eye  most  holy, 

That  slumbers  not,  nor  sleeps ; 


56  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


That  looks  upon  the  lowly, 

And  watch  o'er  all  things  keeps. 

He  guards  us  in  our  slumber, 
Each  night,  upon  our  bed ; 

He  even  knows  the  number 
Of  hairs  upon  our  head. 

Then  who  can  ever  harm  us, 
Beneath  our  Father  s  eye  ? 

Or  what  should  e'er  alarm  us, 
While  such  a  Friend  is  nigh  ? 

43.  THE  ORANGE. 

In  warmer  climes  than  ours,  we  know, 
God  makes  the  oranges  to  grow, 
And  since  not  all  are  wanted  there, 
He  kindly  lets  us  have  a  share. 

And  many  other  good  things,  too, 
Come  from  far  countries,  where  they  grew, 
Come  to  our  tables,  day  by  day, 
Our  Maker's  goodness  to  display. 

Go,  then,  sweet  juicy  orange,  go 
To  yonder  bed  of  pain  and  woe ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN     BOOK, 


57 


That  poor  sick  child,  in  lowly  cot, 
The  God  of  love  has  not  forgot. 

It  was  for  this  he  brought  you  o'er 
The  sea,  a  thousand  miles  or  more ; 
That  you,  with  juice  so  cool  and  sweet, 
Might  moisten  lips  that  cannot  eat. 


How  good  is  God  !  how  kind  !  how  wise  ! 
Who  all  our  wants  each  day  supplies, 
Sends  good  things  to  the  rich  man  s  door, 
And  to  the  dwellings  of  the  poor. 


58  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


He  loves  that  they  who  much  possess 
Should  help  the  poor  in  their  distress. 
And,  with  kind  hand  and  feeling  heart, 
Be  ever  ready  to  impart. 


44.  THE  BIBLE. 

Of  all  the  good  books  that  are  found  upon  earth, 

The  Bible  stands  first  and  alone; 
There 's  none  that  cornea  near  it  in  wisdom  and 
worth. 

No  other  God's  will  can  make  known. 

It  tells  us  of  great  and  of  glorious  things, 
Which  angels  with  wonder  might  hear ; 

Glad  tidings  from  heaven  to  all  men  it  brings, 
Of  peace  and  of  pardon  brought  near. 

God  speaks  in  the  Bible  to  each  and  to  all, 
With  grace  through  the  Son  of  his  love ; 

And  they  who  attend  to  his  heavenly  call, 
Shall  rise  to  his  kingdom  above. 


MY    0¥N    HYMN    BOOK.  59 

There  's  much  in  the  Bible  that 's  easy  and  plain 

To  those  who  are  lowly  in  mind ; 
Nor  even  an  infant  shall  read  it  in  vain 

The  way  of  salvation  to  find. 

Then  dear  to  my  heart  be  the  book  of  the  Lord, 
Where  daily  these  wonders  I  trace ; 

And  may  I,  thus  fed  on  the  milk  of  the  word, 
Grow  stronger  and  richer  in  grace. 


45.  THE  LORD'S  DAY. 

This  is  the  Lord's  own  day, 
The  Sabbath  of  the  Lord ; 
Now  I  must  leave  my  play, 
And  read  and  hear  his  word  : 
That  word  which  makes  the  simple  wise, 
And  tells  of  joys  above  the  skies. 

We  keep  one  day  in  seven, 
The  day  that  God  hath  blest ; 

The  Sabbath  day  is  given 

That  man  and  beast  may  rest ; 


60  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


Now  all  that  live  from  toil  should  cease, 
And  we  should  seek  our  God  in  peace. 

Now  with  glad  heart  we  go 
Into  the  house  of  prayer, 
That  we  his  will  may  know, 
And  pray  and  praise  him  there. 
For  Jesus  rose  again  this  day, 
And  now  to  heaven  he  shows  the  way. 

Lord  Jesus  !  teach  me  how 

To  keep  thy  holy  day : 
Let  thy  good  Spirit  now 
Help  me  to  sing  and  pray ; 
And  may  the  Lord's  day  ever  be 
A  glad  and  happy  day  to  me. 

46.  NOT  TOO  YOUNG  TO  DIE. 

I  am  not  too  young  to  die ; 
Some  have  died  as  young  as  I, 
Some  who  were  as  well  and  strong, 
Some  who  had  not  lived  so  long. 

When  I  die,  where  shall  I  go  ? 
To  a  world  of  joy  or  woe  ? 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  61 

Rise  to  heaven  with  God  to  dwell, 
Or  for  ever  sink  to  hell  ? 

God  invites  me  from  above, 
Jesus  draws  me  by  his  love; 
For  my  sins  his  life  he  gave, 
Now  he  ever  lives  to  save. 

If  his  word  I  now  obey, 
He  will  take  my  sins  away ; 
Then  I  need  not  fear  to  die, 
For  my  soul  will  mount  on  high. 

Jesus !  save  me  by  thy  grace, 
Fit  me  for  that  holy  place, 
Where  with  thee,  when  time  is  o'er 
I  may  live,  to  die  no  more. 


47.  LIFE  AND  DEATH. 

Our  life  is  like  a  tender  flower, 

That  often  withers  in  an  hour ; 

Like  grass  cut  down,  we  change  and  die, 

And  in  the  dust  all  pale  we  lie. 

Though  we  are  found  in  health  one  day, 
The  next  we  may  be  called  away ; 


62 


MY    OWN    HYMN"    BOOK. 


A  little  thing  may  stop  our  breath, 
And  leave  us  still  and  cold  in  death. 

Sin  is  the  cause  of  death  and  pain ; 
Sin  makes  us  turn  to  dust  again ; 
As  all  have  sinned,  so  all  must  die ; 
Not  one  on  earth  from  death  can  fly. 


r'^L. 


Rut  when  this  life  is  passed  away, 
And  we  no  more  on  earth  can  stay, 
There  is  a  better  life  above, 
A  heaven  of  joy,  and  praise,  and  love. 


MY    OWN     HYMN    BOOK.  63 


For  Jesus  died,  and  rose  again, 
That  we  might  life  and  heaven  obtain 
And  if  he  be  our  Lord  and  Friend, 
Our  life  in  heaven  shall  never  end. 


48.  LIFE  AFTER  DEATH. 

Is  it  true  that  I  shall  never 

Cease  to  think,  and  feel,  and  know? 
Am  I  made  to  live  for  ever, 

In  a  world  of  joy  or  woe  ? 
Yes,  it  is  no  idle  story ; 

I  shall  dwell  with  God  on  high, 
In  a  world  of  light  and  glory, 

Or  in  woe  for  ever  lie. 

Life  that  ne'er  shall  end,  in  heaven, 

God  bestows  through  Christ  his  Son ; 
If  we  ask,  it  will  be  given ; 

Jesus  Christ  will  cast  out  none. 
This  is  what  the  Bible  teaches, 

I  may  seek  the  gift  divine  5 
Even  to  a  child  it  reaches, 

I  may  hope  to  call  it  mine. 


64  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


All  on  earth  is  fading,  dying ; 

Here  I  may  not  long  remain ; 
But  to  Christ  for  refuge  flying, 

When  I  die  it  will  be  gain. 
Christ  will  to  his  glory  take  me, 

All  the  joys  of  heaven  to  share ; 
Holy,  happy,  he  will  make  me ; 

I  shall  live  for  ever  there. 


49.  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD. 
ha.  xl.  11. 

Jesus,  like  a  shepherd  tender, 

Feeds  his  flock,  and  gives  them  rest ; 
Praises  to  his  name  we  render, 

By  whose  grace  our  souls  are  blest. 
As  his  lambs,  he  kindly  takes  us 

In  his  gentle,  loving  arms; 
And  in  his  own  bosom  makes  us 

Feel  secure  from  all  alarms. 
Feeble  as  we  are,  he  careth 

For  our  wants  from  day  to  day: 
Each  his  love  and  pity  shareth, 

While  he  guides  us  in  the  way. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  65 

Meekly  he  hath  gone  before  us, 

Thus  the  path  of  life  to  show ; 
And  his  mercy  doth  restore  us, 

When  in  some  wrong  way  we  go. 
Holy  Jesus  !  still  direct  us  : 

While  thy  lambs  on  earth  are  found ; 
Let  thy  mighty  power  protect  us, 

As  we  pass  where  snares  abound. 

Keep  us,  save  us — may  we  never 
Turn  from  thee,  or  grieve  thy  love ; 

Feed  us,  lift  us  up  for  ever, 
To  thy  glorious  fold  above ! 

50.   "FEED  MY  LAMBS." 

John  xxi.  15. 

The  little  lambs  of  Jesus'  fold, 

To  him  are  very  dear ; 
He  loves  them  now,  as  when  of  old 

He  called  the  infants  near. 

Milk  is  for  babes,  and  Jesus  knows 

The  food  which  they  require ; 
And  in  his  word  it  freely  flows, 

To  suit  their  heart's  desire. 


66  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


Kind  gentle  words  of  truth  and  love, 

In  easy  portions  found, 
Like  manna  falling  from  above, 

In  his  good  word  abound. 

And  who  the  lambs  of  Christ  will  feed, 

With  tender,  patient  care  ? 
They  who  love  Jesus  Christ  indeed, 

Such  toil,  such  honour  share. 

Kind  Saviour !  let  thy  lambs  be  fed 
With  thine  own  truth  and  love, 

And  by  thy  heavenly  care  be  led 
Safe  to  thy  fold  above. 


51.  LITTLE  CHILDREN  PRAISING  THE  SAVIOUR. 

To  praise  the  Saviour's  name, 
Let  little  children  try ; 
While  saints  and  angels  do  the  same, 
In  the  bright  world  on  high. 

His  love  in  heaven  is  sung, 


&j 


His  name  is  there  adored ; 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  67 

Yet  children  here,  though  e'er  so  young, 
May  learn  to  praise  the  Lord. 

The  wonders  of  that  love 
No  earthly  tongue  can  tell, 
Which  brought  our  Jesus  from  above, 
To  ransom  us  from  hell. 

For  us  he  wept  and  bled, 
And  suffered  all  his  pain  „ 
For  us  was  numbered  with  the  dead, 
And  rose  to  life  again. 

And  still  for  us  he  prays, 
And  makes  our  souls  his  care ; 
He  loves  to  hear  our  feeble  praise, 
And  listens  to  our  prayer. 

Lord  Jesus  !  grant  that  we 
May  know  thy  saving  grace ; 
Live,  while  on  earth,  to  honour  thee, 
In  heaven  behold  thy  face. 


68 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK, 


52.  PRAISE  FOR  SALVATION. 


Come,  little  children,  come, 

To  praise  the  Lord  unite ; 
Not  one  of  you  be  dumb, 

Sing  with  your  heart  and  might ; 
In  sounds  of  joy  your  voices  raise, 
For  babes  may  sing  their  Maker's  praise. 

How  great  our  Father's  love ! 

He  spared  not  his  own  Son, 
But  sent  him  from  above, 

The  Just,  the  Holy  One, 


MY    OWtf    HYMN    BOOK.  69 

Upon  the  cross  our  sins  to  bear. 

That  we  in  heaven  his  love  might  share. 

How  kind  must  Jesus  be, 

To  leave  his  throne  on  high, 
To  be  as  poor  as  we, 

To  suffer,  bleed,  and  die : 
To  die  for  us,  that  we  might  rise 
To  live  with  him  above  the  skies. 

Sing,  little  children,  sing, 

For  Jesus  says  you  may ; 
Oh  praise  your  Lord  and  King. 
And  love  him  and  obey : 
And  then,  when  he  shall  come  again, 
You  shall  with  him  in  glory  reign. 


53.  GLORY  TO  JESUS. 

Glory  be  to  Zion's  King 
Let  the  babes  in  Zion  sing : 
Little  ones  like  us  may  raise 
Our  glad  voices  in  his  praise. 

He  whom  angels  praise  and  love 
In  the  world  of  light  above, 


70  MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK. 


Left  his  high  and  holy  place, 
To  redeem  us  by  his  grace. 

Jesus  came  our  souls  to  save ; 
For  our  sins  his  life  he  gave : 
Jesus  died  that  we  might  live ; 
Glory  to  his  name  we  give. 

Jesus  did  not  die  in  vain, 
From  the  dead  he  rose  again ; 
Now  he  ever  lives  in  heaven, 
And  to  him  all  power  is  given. 

Jesus  is  the  Lord  of  all ; 
Let  his  foes  before  him  fall ; 
Let  all  people  hear  his  word, 
Sing  his  praise,  and  call  him  Lord. 

Jesus  is  the  Prince  of  peace, 
Now  let  strife  and  anger  cease ; 
Earth  and  heaven  unite  to  sing, 
Glory  be  to  Christ  our  King. 


MY    OWN    HYMN    BOOK.  71 


54.  PRAISE  AND  LOVE. 

Oh  praise  the  Lord  for  he  is  good ; 
He  gives  us  life,  and  health,  and  food ; 
He  watches  o'er  us  night  and  day, 
And  never  turns  his  eyes  away. 

Young  as  we  are,  yet  may  we  raise 
Our  feeble  voices  in  his  praise ; 
Weak  as  we  are,  the  Lord  above 
Will  not  despise  an  infant's  love. 

To  him  our  love  and  praise  we  owe, 
Who  thinks  on  us  in  all  our  woe ; 
Who  sent  his  Son  to  bring  us  nigh, 
And  raise  us  to  his  throne  on  high. 

Lord,  may  we  love  thee  for  thy  love, 

And  when  we  see  thy  face  above, 

With  voice  more  sweet,  and  love  more  strong, 

There  may  we  join  the  heavenly  song. 

THE   END. 


